42,9°
Distillery Officially Unknown - Ireland
2 Ex-Bourbon Casks
Independent Bottling
By Teeling Whiskey Company
Limited Edition
Single Malt
Bottled in 2016
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength
Totally Unpeated
Upon its release, this whisky was billed as “the oldest bottling of Irish Single Malt recently released”, and it is precisely its age that poses a problem. Where does it come from? It cannot be a Teeling, as their distillery only began operating in 2015, but it cannot be a Cooley either, as that distillery only started production in 1989. In 1983, there were only two active distilleries in Ireland, and only one of them produced Single Malt. That’s Old Bushmills. So this is an independent bottling, even though that isn’t stated anywhere. Only 275 bottles were released for sale, but I reckon the Teeling family kept a few bottles for themselves, and I can’t blame them. The very simple maturation process promises a very pure spirit.
Let's Taste It :
The nose offers a very varied and complex bouquet, intense and brimming with a variety of fruits, juicy pears, baked apples, exotic fruits such as papaya and even mango, buttered toast, floral notes, and a medley of citrus fruits including mandarins, lime, grapefruit, persimmon. Sweet notes are reminiscent of cane sugar, very pure vanilla and a few grains of cereal, but these are subtle and very well balanced. On the palate, it is smoother, even waxy, yet very well crafted, the vanilla blends with honey and mirabelle plums, light caramel, mashed bananas, perhaps a hint of coconut and apricot. The spices are almost undetectable. The finish is very long, very oily, and powerful despite the low alcohol content. Wood shavings, sweet cider, very ripe yellow plums, a trace of liquorice. Varnished wooden floor, blond tobacco.
In Short,
Thanks to an astonishing turn of events, I was able to taste it twice, and I’d like to thank the person who made it possible for me to be granted this great favour (Hi Steve!). It’s the oldest Irish whiskey I’ve ever tasted, and also the best, without a shadow of a doubt. What makes this nectar so special is, first and foremost, its maturation in Bourbon casks, which allows the spirit to reach its full potential. The other aged Irish whiskies I’ve tasted have been matured in Sherry, Port and even Burgundy wine casks. I’m all for experimentation, that’s part of what makes whiskey so wonderful. But nothing beats a very good Bourbon cask. And finally, despite its age, despite the triple distillation, and despite the low alcohol content, the spirit remains surprisingly expressive, deep and complex. Some old whiskies or whiskeys lose their intensity with age, but that is certainly not the case here. This makes it an excellent product that is an absolute must-try for anyone interested in Irish whiskey, a thoroughly respectable ‘Holy Grail’. Unfortunately, the price far exceeds the median French salary, and even my own salary. If samples could be sold, it would sell much better.
Score : 91
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Jeff Buckley & Elizabeth Fraser - All Flowers in Town Bends Towards the Sun
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